Broody Hen Thread!

[Phoenixxx]

You will need some longer days to trigger laying, if they haven't been through the winter. Their laying hormones and brooding hormones, I've read, are connected...the bird needs to feel there is enough warmth, and food, to warrant bringing in chicks to feed.

You might want to increase the protein intake, make sure they have quiet, dark, and cushy dry nests, and leave some fake eggs for a good clutch. The hormones are kicked in by warmth (simulating spring time) and the pressure of eggs on their breast (simulating laying a full clutch).

While I have had my very broody prone Silkie brood through any and all seasons, my large fowl broodies generally go broody around May/June. That is a common time.

Hopefully as the days lengthen and warm, encouraging the hormones, and maybe a few enticements, your birds will decide to brood.

Lady of McCamley

Thanks! So looks like I'm in for a looooong wait.... While the days may be lengthening, they're not warming up anytime in the foreseeable future As for the fake eggs, they keep kicking the ping pong balls out of the nests. They were actually playing soccer with one the other day!

 

[sonderah]

Thanks! So looks like I'm in for a looooong wait.... While the days may be lengthening, they're not warming up anytime in the foreseeable future As for the fake eggs, they keep kicking the ping pong balls out of the nests. They were actually playing soccer with one the other day!

Lol My Silkie won't even go in any nest boxes. So, guess I'm SOL for awhile.

 

[chicksurreal]

It's Day 21 for Rosalinn, my little black silkie. I took a peek this morning and it's still just eggs. It's so hard to wait.....

Ooooh! it's hard for everyone! I don't have any broody hens (might never with Hamburgs), but I love to watch this thread and see what happens with all of your broody girls!

 

[elsfieldchickens]

My two broody girls

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ooooh! it's hard for everyone! I don't have any broody hens (might never with Hamburgs), but I love to watch this thread and see what happens with all of your broody girls!

You are always welcome to live vicariously with us...somebody always got somebody sitting on a nest to hatch something here.

Get yourself a little Silkie just for brooding. You'll have a broody then no doubt.

Lady of McCamley

 

[chickenlickin8]

I have my first broody hen and I gave her some fertile eggs that I picked up locally this morning. I've hatched in an incubator but not under a hen. She's a Barred Rock (Betty)! I'm excited to see her and the little chickies running around together. Any and all advice is welcome

The Eggs


Betty

 

[chickenlickin8]

My two broody girls

Beautiful hens! Is it there first time being broody?

 

[sonderah]

You are always welcome to live vicariously with us...somebody always got somebody sitting on a nest to hatch something here.

Get yourself a little Silkie just for brooding. You'll have a broody then no doubt.   

Lady of McCamley

That's what I do. I've never had a broody, just read everyone else's adorable stories. Lol

And what's so funny... I just got me a Silkie 2 weeks ago cause I was so jealous! Had her 15 days and finally got my egg from her today!!! Yay!

 

[idontknowsquat]

I
Lilly is a little mottled cochin and she decided to go broody GREAT we love it! My son said mom you think she'd let me stick a d'uccle egg under her? I said go try it. MOM she has after 2 days stolen 12 eggs from everyone!!!! So we rearranged to stop this stealing (what kind of mother example would that be to her brood after all) By the next day she was up to 18 !!!! So Lilly has now been put in isolation with an appropriate number of eggs (some will be adoptees) Waiting and poofing up as large as possible with each peek from us!

 

[chicksurreal]

You are always welcome to live vicariously with us...somebody always got somebody sitting on a nest to hatch something here.

Get yourself a little Silkie just for brooding. You'll have a broody then no doubt.

Lady of McCamley

I am really tempted! I want to be a bit more prepared for it first (we need another coop and run first), but I am just loving all the broodiness going on here! I love the pictures of the broody hens and their chicks when they hatch. They look so fierce and protective. It's just so awesome!